Rockhound’s Paradise

RAPAPORT… The Tucson Gem Shows offered a variety of venues, news and noteworthy stones. 

It’s doubtful that the first rockhounds toting their mineral boxes to Tucson 50 years ago would recognize the behemoth they spawned. The annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Shows of the twenty-first century serve everyone from trendsetters to scientists. This year’s higher preregistration signaled enthusiastic buying, likely due to a broader mix of loose stones and jewelry.

Countless venues revolve around the timetable set by American Gem Trade Association’s (AGTA) GemFair™ in the Convention Center, and Gem & Jewelry Exchange (GJX), housed under massive white tents across the street. So one could actually arrive the week prior and stay on for another two weeks after those shows close, doing plenty of gem trade business.

Centurion 2007 kicked off its prestigious annual show at a stunning desert resort nearly an hour’s drive from the frenetic pace in Tucson. The event, which preceded the January 31 opening of GemFair, delighted attendees with one of the winners of the Tanzanite Foundation’s Celebration of Life Jewelry Design Awards, a $2 million evening sandal encrusted with 185 carats of tanzanite and 28 carats of diamonds (see page 193). But the real focus lies in the luxury goods from top-notch designers like Hellmuth USA, SeidenGang, and Gumuchian Fils, a recipient of numerous accolades from industry peers. Owner Myriam Gumuchian, a five-year Centurion veteran, was busy the entire time. She noted, “There was a lot of excitement over our new Twinset™ collection, and our classic color pieces, especially our unusual carved brooches.”

The business of colored stones dominates every Tucson experience, and numerous first-rate free seminars are designed to assist professionals. Colored stone expert Richard Drucker, Gemworld International, presented Best Buys in Tucson, citing, in part, the top colored stones sold in 2006 and contrasting them with sales from previous years. Noticeably absent from the list was tanzanite. Purple sapphire climbed in favor, creating speculation on this trend. Colored sapphire’s dramatic high dispersion, and lower cost than colored diamonds, which are enjoying brisk sales, may contribute to this upswing.
 
AWARDS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

In a move to bolster consumer confidence for colored stones, International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) chose its annual dinner to announce its collaboration with two prominent laboratories. The American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) and the Gem Certification and Assurance Lab (GCAL), each offering distinct services, became ICA’s official gemstone and diamond laboratories for North America.

Shane McClure, director of West Coast Identification Services at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Laboratory, was feted at the Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) ceremony for his contributions to the field of gemology. He is most celebrated for his research on gem treatments. Citing the numerous accomplishments of fellow nominees, McClure said, “I am incredibly honored to be this year’s Antonio C. Bonanno Award recipient. I consider it a great privilege to be chosen for this award.” At the same event, guests applauded the news that renowned gemologist John Koivula had recently rejoined GIA.

NEW ON VIEW

Revitalized interest was generated with inexpensive smoky quartz and moldavite among high-volume manufacturers. The smoky quartz sold this year was livelier — lighter in value and warmer toned — a natural companion for brown pearls and trendy sun-toned gemstones. D S Gems introduced moldavite briolettes in a crisp pale green that were so devoid of the usual muddy undertones that some mistook them for a new material.

Pearl buyers also found something new. Jack Lynch of Sea Hunt Pearls described a phenomenon occurring with his nucleated mollusks that previously produced free-form baroque coins between 20 to 23 millimeters (mm). The gigantic 25 mm plus keshi strands draped across his table this year were the surprising result of reusing those mollusks for a second or third generation without further nucleation.

Manufacturer-exporter Ratan Mani’s Maharajah Collection of 23-karat gold, traditionally inspired designs paired with twenty-first century colored stones attracted buyers who saw their earrings on pop star Beyoncé. Overland Gems Inc. presented dramatic Madagascar color-change garnet exhibiting nearly 100 percent change from wine to deep bluish-green. Jewelers requiring sizable rare color stones found just that from James Thornley & Co., whose 24.80-carat natural green zircon is reported to be the largest ever found.

Speaking of high-end goods, tanzanite sightholder Sanjay Goyal, STS Gems USA, found that as the public becomes well-versed with tanzanite, “Top-quality, darker loose goods in the 1- to 3-carat range are in greatest demand. I wish I had more of those smaller stones.” As a result, he sees less bargaining power in that category, creating a stabilizing effect on prices.

New at GemFair was the Colored Diamond Pavilion, providing one-stop shopping for natural colored and treated diamonds. Amgad, Inc. offered loose vivid natural green diamonds, plus a stylish natural multicolor diamond line, Colorful Cocktails with a Twist, aimed at a young, savvy, color diamond clientele, priced nicely from $5,000 to $25,000. Several items in that group retail for under $10,000, according to Jordan Fine, Amgad vice president, and respond to a market calling for natural colored diamonds in that price range. Nearby, Chimère Designs, known for pure-hued, enhanced-color diamonds, showcased lively orange treated diamonds and premiered their diamond-in-diamond jewelry collection, utilizing black diamonds as the dramatic backdrop for seamlessly embedded white or colored diamonds.

OTHER VENUES

Not all the big deals took place at the Convention Center or the GJX tents. Around town, simultaneous large-scale transactions were taking place in less convenient locales. Many Tucson veterans maintain that the “real bargains” are to be found at the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers-Holidome. Faceted and rough emeralds piled unceremoniously high upon tables lent credence to that idea. Gold and silver chain dealers were kept busy there. Worldwide Gem & Jewelry at The Hotel Arizona showcased the breadth of gem interests from antique jewelry dealers, mass manufacturers and loose colored stone wholesalers. Interesting was Nice Diamond’s 31.93-carat natural round brilliant cut black diamond. Timeless Jewels’ well-situated lobby space kept buyers focused on their classic colored gemstone goods.

The indescribable enormity of the Tucson shows creates for each attendee a unique experience. Paraphrasing this enigma, Charlotte Preston, Charlotte Preston Catalysts, provider of conference planning and support services for the AGTA GemFair, observed, “In the end, whatever you see in Tucson is your Tucson show experience.”